Outgoing US President Barack Obama has formally said goodbye to the country he has led for the past eight years.

In his final address to the nation, Mr Obama expressed the hope that the USA's democracy would not falter.

He will step down next week when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

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Donald Trump has rejected claims that Russia has got hold of embarrassing information about him.

It is understood US intelligence officials have so far been unable to verify the claims, but they were considered serious enough to be included in a highly-classified report on alleged interference by Moscow in the US election.

Donald Trump has tweeted "fake news - a total political witch hunt".

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Home Sweet Home will go to the High Court later looking to extend the occupation of Apollo House in Dublin.

It comes after the group said Minister Simon Coveney was undermining a deal they struck with him.

12pm today is when the occupiers of Apollo House have to legally leave, following a High Court ruling before Christmas.

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An inquiry into the cash for ash scandal in Northern Ireland is expected to be announced later today.

The crisis has led to the collapse of the Stormont executive - after Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness resigned on Monday.

Last night the Taoiseach and British Prime Minister spoke by phone and today Arlene Foster's due to outline her plans to deal with the situation.

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A 22-year-old gunman who shot dead nine black members of a bible study group in South Carolina has been sentenced to death.

Dylann Roof was convicted last month after carrying out the attack at a church in Charleston in 2015.